Leader of the ACT Party, David Seymour says his proposed document for new immigrants to sign should include statements on sexuality and gender. The ACT leader believes the Government should “do more to ensure those arriving in New Zealand share our peaceful views.” His comments come following the announcement that the Government will increase the refugee quota from 750 people per year to 1000. “This is also a good opportunity to up our commitment to values of peace and tolerance. Why wouldn’t we state these values clearly to the people seeking join our country?” he says. Seymour says at this stage he is only suggesting New Zealand should have a document, like the one in Australia, but says “I would advocate that it should contain a statement to the effect that people should be free to practice their sexuality without persecution alongside the statements about gender, ethnicity, and religion.” He says he hasn’t spoken out on exactly what should be in the document as “ultimately to get agreement on a policy you have to be prepared to hear others views.” “Countries like Australia and Belgium require immigrants to sign a statement of commitment to national values. A New Zealand Values Statement could include a commitment to respect the basic freedoms that make this country a wonderful place to live.”
Credit: GayNZ.com Daily News staff
First published: Wednesday, 15th June 2016 - 9:57am